Diana Leblanc

Last updated
Diana Leblanc
Born1943 (age 8182)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Education National Theatre School of Canada
OccupationActress
Known for Swiss Family Robinson
More Tales of the City
Further Tales of the City

Diana Leblanc (born 1943) [1] is a Canadian television and film actress, best known to US audiences for her portrayal of Frannie Halcyon in the TV miniseries More Tales of the City (1998) and its follow-up Further Tales of the City (2001). [2] These miniseries were sequels to Tales of the City (1994), which starred Nina Foch in the role of Frannie. [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Leblanc was born in Montreal and enrolled in the French program at the National Theatre School of Canada, switching to the English program in her second year. She was a founding member of the Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto and a member of the Neptune Theatre company in Halifax. Leblanc was artistic director for the Théâtre français de Toronto. [1]

Career

Leblanc had roles in the films Mahoney's Last Stand , Lies My Father Told Me and The Third Walker and the television series Swiss Family Robinson . She played Grace Elliott, the mother of Pierre Trudeau, [3] in the 2005 television miniseries Trudeau II: Maverick in the Making. She also appeared in the television series North of 60 . [1]

As a director, she has worked not only in the theatre but in radio, directing 75 one-minute radio dramas for the Bronfman Heritage Minutes series, when it evolved from film into radio.[ citation needed ] Leblanc has directed at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival including a 1994 production of Long Day's Journey into Night , at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts in Montreal and at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. She has also directed productions for the Canadian Opera Company, Calgary Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria and the International Opera Centrum in Amsterdam. [1] She continues to work in Toronto theatre as a director.

In 2015, Leblanc received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, for her work in theatre. [4] She has also received the Gascon-Thomas Award from the National Theatre School of Canada and a Gemini Award. [1]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1972Mahoney's EstateJoy
1978 The Third Walker The Nun
1982Jen's PlaceJennifer's Mother
1992 Oh, What a Night Dora / Donald's mother
2012 The Samaritan Celia
2014 Wet Bum Judith

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1962 Playdate ElfieEpisode: "The Broken Sky"
1963 Festival Hedvig EkdalEpisode: "The Wild Duck"
1966Henry VPrincessTelevision film
1971–1974 Dr. Simon Locke Various roles4 episodes
1973 Lighten My Darkness
1974–1976 Swiss Family Robinson Elizabeth Robinson26 episodes
1981 The Great Detective Veronica Batcherly2 episodes
1989 Friday the 13th: The Series Judith HornEpisode: "Crippled Inside"
1993Bonds of LovePsychologistTelevision film
1993 North of 60 Sister SimoneEpisode: "Sisters of Mercy"
1994 Madonna: Innocence Lost Ruth NovakTelevision film
1995 Lady Killer Dr. Sachs
1997 The Adventures of Shirley Holmes Rebecca RatcliffEpisode: "The Case of the Second Sight"
1998 More Tales of the City Frannie Halcyon6 episodes
2001 Further Tales of the City 3 episodes
2001 The Pretender: Island of the Haunted OceeTelevision film
2004Snakes & LaddersTamlyn BarnesEpisode: "Squattergate"
2005Trudeau II: Maverick in the MakingGrace Elliott TrudeauTelevision film
2005, 2006 This Is Wonderland Joan Demchek2 episodes
2008Of Murder and MemoryGraceTelevision film
2009The Good Times Are Killing MeCelia Derby
2010 Living in Your Car Judge Puddicombe5 episodes
2014 Murdoch Mysteries Caroline HillEpisode: "The Death of Dr. Ogden"
2015 Remedy Marielle KavanaughEpisode: "Fight or Flight"
2016 Kim's Convenience Mary3 episodes
2017 Private Eyes Martha CasparyEpisode: "Now You See Her"
2021 SurrealEstate Sister Mary EllenEpisode: "Ft. Ghost Child"

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Diana Leblanc". Award Recipients. Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.
  2. "Diana Leblanc". Siminovitch Prize. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Diana Leblanc at IMDb
  4. "Governor General's Performing Arts Award - Diana Leblanc Clip". Video Clip of Diana Leblanc's Governor General's Performing Arts Award presentation at the National Art Centre. by Patrick Roy. May 30, 2015.